Filling the Gaps: following in the footsteps of the Wildwood and the Angle

[Phantion]

The problem with this is that focusing entire Far Western side of Gondor on lower lvl alternative route content sounds like a massive dedication.

The problem is, in part, your map.




First off, it was never an issue in the Cape of Belfalas or Lebennin - or West Gondor for that matter. Why? Mountains. Huge, over-scaled mountains. But mountains nonetheless.

A huge bulk of West Gondor is literally just impassable mountains - Tarlang especially - and the open ocean.

A huge bulk of Central Gondor - pretty much the whole northern half of Lebennin - is impassable mountains.

So, when we look at LOTRO's actual map, not the horribly distorted one terrainmap uses ---> we'll notice that, in fact, the whole Cape of Andrast is lined by these mountains, they dip down into Anfalas, and there's another whole clump of mountains between Andrast and Westmarch.

If we look at it through that lens - the same lens as Gorgoroth, Ered Mithrin, and to an extent, Vales and Wells and how they brought the Misties literally out to the Anduin in places:

It becomes a do-able lower-level zone. Sure, you'll have much narrower spaces like in Vales and Wells; Andrast, honestly, should feel like traveling around the Cape of Belfalas. It won't have huge, vast open spaces. It'll have narrow roads and passes, some open spaces more due south of Westmarch, some open spaces that would mirror Lower Lebennin somewhat in Anfalas / Green Hills, but you're not going to have a terrible ton to develop. You'll have plenty of mountains though

Before CardoSwan, I would've said it would have taken 2 updates. Now I just see it taking 1 somewhat larger update - - - which, again, the bulk of which is impassable mountains and open ocean. I don't see this as "massive" an undertaking as you do; I trust Scenario's new tech he's been all excited about since Car Bronach, the results of which we've seen in Yondershire and will, in about a month, explore in Cardoswan.

I still think players should have a choice: foray into Gorgoroth or, alternatively, deal with the immediate impact of the War of the Ring in the western reaches of Gondor. This should happen before Frodo leaves Minas Tirith. Also, I think ---> RE- Faramir and Eowyn, we're not really told that they settled in Emyn Arnen - after - Theoden's funeral. Theoden has an incorrupt body, as I understand it, like many mythic kings of legend. So, he's able to rest regally for quite a few months before being interred in his barrow in Edoras.

In the meantime, there's enough time passing for all these trees to get planted in Minas Tirith and for Dwarves to get down from Erebor to wrought new mithril gates for the White City, again as I understand it currently, and if I'm wrong there, correct me. I don't see a problem with a small "time-compression" to get an "After Battle Bar Hurin" as the main northern player hub for a Harondor region . . . including a vault, AH, etc., as a logical place to foray southward from. I also don't see a problem with Faramir and Eowyn, after overseeing their new home, traveling to Edoras for Theoden's funeral.

They could change the South Ithilien portal in "March of the Ring" to a clicky-horse and just use After Battle South Ithilien from there.

Cheers!